Allelujah! by Alan Bennett (Bridge Theatre)

Well after seeing this tonight, it really is a mixed bag. There are plenty of laughs to be had over the 2.5hrs, but there is a definite shift in tone from humour to some very dark and disturbing issues examined within the play, particularly at the end of Act 1 which then continues into the second act. Like other posts have mentioned I get the feeling that this could potentially be a marmite production. The audience I sat in with tonight seemed to relish what was offered, though I did notice a few empty seats post interval.

What cannot be hidden is the definite political message of the state of care of the elderly, both within the NHS and the private sector. Both sides got an equally bashing in the writing to be fair. Though I can imagine, this might not be to everyone’s taste for an evening out at the theatre. Though healthcare politics aside, the cast really where on fine form and considering that it was still in preview, the writing was very sharp and the gags, both in the text and visual ones landed easily with the audience. I don’t think that there where many towns left in Yorkshire that didn’t get ripped to pieces in one way or another.

The musical interludes really where fantastic and along with some witty choreography from Arlene Phillips, they really brought a smile and a few laughs to people’s faces.

What was noticeable from my Row B gallery seat was that there where not many empty seats in the auditorium. Personally, this is the first time I’ve seen the theatre full and it really made a difference to the atmosphere inside.

The set staging isn’t overly complex with a few sets sliding in and out from the wings when required. There aren’t any big sets, so for those people thinking of doing Rush tickets for the stalls Row A, there shouldn’t be any visual blocking and the stage isn’t particularly set high. Though just a word of warning for those who aren’t fans of audience participation, there is a bit of a clap along at the end to a song.

In all, despite the dark undertones and political bashing, a fun night out and one in my view worth watching.

I emailed them, and they called me straight back. Just to give everyone the heads up- they are having a production meeting tomorrow and they may very welll be taking out row a as well. I have 1 ticket in row a booked for August, and had one that has now been changed in row aa for September. They’ve offered me a free drink because of the change of seat for my aa, and the box office said I may well get a call tomorrow about my other ticket.

It’s a bit of a pain as I don’t mind restricted view tickets if it allows me to be closer to the front and buying them also allows me to see more theatre with limited funds!

I am a bit miffed about the seats, but you are right- the customer service is superb!

Is it this the first time a show has removed seats during previews? Guess the height of the stage was proving to be an issue to those sat in the front

Thanks for the reassurance on the side seats! I will post as soon as I hear anything tomorrow. I am hoping that they leave in row a, but we will see...

They seem to have take row a off sale completely now looking at the website, but the person I spoke to earlier said there was going to be a meeting about it tomorrow where the descision would be made. AA has defrinately been pulled from sale already.

Just to update, I’ve not heard anything back yet from them regarding my row a, but it does seem that that row are still off sale.

My aa ticket was for September. I am still hoping that the A row stays as that’s my August ticket.

I contacted the Box Office to check and they said row A was unaffected. They weren't very forthcoming but I suppose that's all I needed to know, so it sounds as though, as above, it's row AA which has been a slight issue.

I sat all the way up in Gallery 3 and the view was fine (Nobody cares about your cheap seat-Everyone)

I really enjoyed it, I'm mostly a Talking Heads Alan Bennett person though I enjoyed Alex Jennings in Hymn and Cocktail Sticks. This is Alan Bennett at his darkest but with a lot of warmth and understanding of current issues, which I am not sure I expected from a man in his 80s. The scene just before the interval is one of the funniest and finest twists I have seen in the theatre.

I am unsure about the casting of Samuel Barnett and Sacha Dhawan because due to their skincare regime/genetics they still look like they could be cast in The History Boys. Barnett is 38 and could feasibly be a management consultant trying to destroy the NHS with an 86 year old father but I wonder if some of the effort in ageing up Jeff Rawle (who is only 66) could have gone to ageing up Barnett. Dhawan gives a great performance but I think the character needed to be older or at least give an air of being older. Dhawan seemed very junior in his approach to his character.

I wasn't down for the singing but I got its purpose (when these old people have lost everything else they still had each other/the choir). Barbara Findlay is fantastic as Nurse Gilchrist and I am not sure if The Bridge is eligible for an Olivier but it felt like the sort of performance that deserves one.

Did anyone else think that Deborah Findley was channeling her inner Victoria Wood?

Ha! I mean Deborah! Who is Babara Findlay? Is she any good?